The first quarterback in University of West Florida history continues to play a vital role for the Argos more than a year after the end of his playing career.

Kaleb Nobles became the sixth full-time member of the UWF coaching staff this offseason after the university approved the additional staff member. Nobles will continue to serve as the team’s quarterbacks coach as well as the Director of Football Operations.

Nobles transferred to UWF after three seasons at Valodsta State, where he played in his freshman and sophomore years before redshirting in 2015.

He finished with a 5-6 overall record in the Argos’ inaugural 2016 season, throwing for 3,058 yards with 28 touchdowns.

He had one year of eligibility remaining for the 2017 season but said he didn’t feel physically ready for another season and chose to forego it in favor of coaching.

It was little secret that Nobles wanted to get into the coaching world once his playing career ended. His father, Buddy, was a coach at Fitzgerald High School in Georgia, where Kaleb broke school passing records.

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“We knew that he wanted to be a coach,” UWF head coach Pete Shinnick said. “He’s the son of a coach. He comes from a coaching family.

“Instantly, the way he handled himself, the way he carried himself. I give a lot of credit to his dad and a lot of credit to Kaleb for learning and experiencing all of that because he stepped in and did a fantastic job.”

Despite retiring, he remained a mainstay in the quarterback room last season as a graduate assistant and quarterbacks coach, helping guide the Argos to the NCAA Division II National Championship Game.

Nobles reacted on the fly, helping to purchase pizza and water for the players and coaches in the room before returning to watch film on national final opponent Texas A&M-Commerce.

He’ll be asked to handle most of the planning for the Argos trips this fall, which includes trips to Texas and South Carolina in the regular season. He’s made sure to knock most of the work out this summer so he can focus on bettering the team’s quarterbacks.

“I try to work as hard as I can to make sure everything is done and just make sure that I’m doing my job,” Nobles said. “That way these guys can come out here and play ball and not have to worry about anything. And as well that the coaches don’t have to worry about it.”